Together we can make a difference this Christmas

Support the Bankside Christmas Gift Appeal and together we can make a difference this festive season to people dealing with homelessness, or struggling with their mental health, and to our older neighbours.

One of Better Bankside’s longest-running campaigns, the Bankside Christmas Gift Appeal, brings the Bankside community together to provide gifts to almost 1,000 people. These gifts are distributed through hostels, charities, and community partners in Bankside and across Southwark.

Sign up your business now to support the Christmas Gift Appeal

All businesses that sign up now will be sent a resource pack to help promote the Bankside Christmas Gift Appeal in your organisation. You will also get exclusive early access to sign up for the volunteer gift-wrapping activities that take place in early December.

How does the Bankside Christmas Gift Appeal work?

We partner with For Common Good, a zero-waste donation platform which means we can create bespoke wish lists for each organisation supported by the appeal, giving them a chance to tailor the gifts to suit the needs of the people who they help. Commonly requested gift items include warm clothing, toiletries and edible treats.

The wish lists will be open for donations from early October and will close by the end of November.

Then in early December, Bankside volunteers help wrap and pack the donated gifts so we can deliver them in time for each organisation’s festive celebrations.  Details about this year’s Christmas gift-wrapping activities will be announced soon.

Who does the Bankside Christmas Gift Appeal support?

The Bankside Christmas Gift Appeal has always supported people who are dealing with homelessness, those struggling with their mental health, and our older neighbours who live here in Bankside.

This year, we will support the following Bankside-based organisations and others that work across Southwark.

• Blackfriars Settlement Positive Ageing Service – a day centre service providing support and social activities for 235 local older people.
• The Manna Society  – a day centre for homeless people and those in need, providing hot meals, hot showers, and clean clothes, as well as housing and welfare advice to around 160 people.
• St Mungo’s Great Guildford Street hostel – a 24-hour hostel service that looks after 51 people who are affected by homelessness and have high support needs.
• Blackfriars Settlement Mental Health & Wellbeing Service – groups, activities and one-to-one support helping 95 people who are facing mental health challenges in the community.
• United St Saviours’ Hopton Street Almshouses– the almshouses provide affordable accommodation for 24 local older people.
• Robes Project – running winter night shelters for up to 20 people, this charity also offers advice and support to help people experiencing homelessness to rebuild their lives.
• Lucy Brown House – this sheltered housing service near Borough Market is home to 36 elderly and vulnerable residents.